Panasonic Makes Crappy Ad, Calls It a Viral

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You'd think in a medium made largely successful by teens recording themselves dancing in their rooms or ghostriding the whip, that major brands would naturally thrive. But this wannabe viral for Panasonic Viera's He Didn't See That Coming campaign reminds us all how they fail again and again.

You can't use corny ad shticks, remake them on a shoestring budget and call it viral media. And what are we - five? We're supposed to laugh at a fat guy covered in elephant jizz? Ha ha. No.

Way to sell a Viera, guys. Oh, and that spit-polished website at your guerilla campaign URL? Nice touch.

by Angela Natividad    Jan-16-07    
Topic: Campaigns, Online, Worst



OJ Coquettish About Details in Non-Confession Confession

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We're amazed by how the Patriot Act has affected every one of our rights except protection from double jeopardy, which remains Simpson's ongoing joke on a rubbernecking nation.

It was only a matter of time before the definitive chapter of his botched If I Did It... book leaked to the press. Our favourite part of what he would have done (if he did it) was the end: "Then something went horribly wrong, and I know what happened, but I can't tell you exactly how."

Laughter. And the smacking of gloved hands.

Read the rest of the chapter summary here.

by Angela Natividad    Jan-15-07    
Topic: Celebrity, Online, Publishing, Social, Worst



Zvue Peddles Handheld with Foot in Mouth - Er, Feet for Hands

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For Zvue, makers of handheld whatever-the-fucks, indy SF-based agency BuderEngel and Friends throw together a hopeful viral called Feet for Hands. They warned us first that there wasn't much cash in the deal but no amount of money can compensate us for the embarrassment we suffered having to sit through this story of a man with boots for hands dancing to "Look Out Weekend."

Of course the agency says it's doing well so what do we know? - Contributed by Angela Natividad

by Angela Natividad    Dec-15-06    
Topic: Online, Video, Worst



Sony Takes It Up the Ass For Fake Blog

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OK. We'll say this one more time. Are all you marketers listening? Good. There's a big difference between a teaser campaign and one that maliciously hides it's purpose for long periods of time. And, on top of that, denies its true mission when it's found out. What the hell are we talking about? Take, for example, the teaser billboard. It's usually some irreverent play on words and witty imagery that's then reveled to be part of a larger campaign a couple weeks later. Now take fake blogs. You've heard of them. Edelman knows all about them. They are the things marketers seem to think are the holy grail of this new social media thing. Let's get down with our customers. Let's "join the conversation." Trouble is, a fake blog - one that pretends (badly) to be all hip hop on our ass - is like an idiot that shows up at a black tie event wearing American Eagle cargo shorts and a t-shirt. The natural reaction to that is, "Who the fuck is that idiot?"

more »

by Steve Hall    Dec-12-06    
Topic: Brands, Opinion, Social, Weblogs, Worst



Deft's Leaping Rudolph Game Lacks Pep. But Merry Christmas.

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Deft Creative Ltd.'s, awkwardly sloganed "Dexterous of hand and inventive of mind," demonstrates neither dexterity (though they try) nor inventiveness (no effort here) with this dull leaping-Rudolph ski game. The object is to beat the furthest leap and we're ensured by the agency guy that "All scores on the score board ARE beatable." Glad he made the effort to bang that in because otherwise we were going to lose sleep over it.

The game is tricky in that it involves holding down your left mouse button and releasing when you feel Rudolph has built enough momentum. Then you let loose and do it all over again. It's a cross between the high school pole jump and a Friday night spent half-heartedly masturbating. - Contributed by Angela Natividad

by Angela Natividad    Dec-11-06    
Topic: Games, Online, Worst



Lego Ads Fake. Creators Apologize, Agency Fires Their Asses

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Well, so much for those Lego ads. And so much for their creators. Today, the creators of the ads, Black Wu and Darren Cheung have acknowledged the ads are, in fact, fake, and that they were created as a "personal trial to challenge creativity." Commenting on the creation of these ads, they state, "We got so carried away that we came out with the stupidest idea that upset a broad audience. This was obviously done without the knowledge of any of the Saatchi & Saatchi managers."

Another letter from Saatchi & Saatchi Guangzhou China Head of Admin Ms. Cherry Yang clarifies the ads did not officially emanate from Saatchi, no one inside the organization was aware of their existence and that Wu and Cheung "have been dismissed today as their irresponsible personal behavior have severely affected our company's professional image." Well, there you have it. Pair creates spec ads to gain notoriety. Stupidly attaches employer's name to ads. Piss off employer. Get fired.

by Steve Hall    Dec- 8-06    
Topic: Agencies, Spoofs, Worst



Lego Commits 'Advertising Crimes Against Humanity'

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Less than one day after a set of Lego ads appeared out of Saatchi & Saatchi China which bluntly belittled major world catastrophes, a video entitled Advertising Crimes Against Humanity has appeared on YouTube that doesn't paint a pretty picture for Lego or Saatchi. The video shows each of the three ads in the series and zooms in on the Lego logo. At the end, Saatchi's China phone number is provided and viewers are urged to direct their concerns to the ad's creators whose name are provided. We've placed a call but it's the middle of the night over there and no one answered.

We're hoping these are fake ads. If not, Lego may find itself in a bit of a PR fiasco.

by Steve Hall    Dec- 7-06    
Topic: Brands, Video, Worst



Lego Belittles World Disasters

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While many might look at these ads(1, 2, 3), which have been out for a while we believe, and call them a horrific glorification of unfortunate word events. Other might say, "Hey, shit happens. Get over it. It's just an ad campaign." Of note, these ads were created in China by Saatchi & Saatchi according to Ads of the World and their world view is quite different than ours. Though, the fact they are Chinese ads written in English always causes one to wonder whether they are actually real or leaked fakes. If someone at Saatchi wants to confirm or deny their existence, we're all ears. If they are real, we think they step over the line just a wee bit.

by Steve Hall    Dec- 7-06    
Topic: Worst



The Quitter Inspires Smoke Rings

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Nodding to that covert blog thing that didn't go so well, the American Cancer Society visibly sponsors The Quitter, a blog written by a generic representative (they hope) for smokers at large.

We like a good message but the blog tries so hard it's almost farce. With terminology like "Ya know," "I'm really craving a cig" and "this ain't their first rodeo," we couldn't help looking around and wondering, Are they serious? Or are they fucking joking? The video blog nailed it in: they are really trying to do this with a straight face. In consternation we left for a smoke break.

Yes, we know smoking is marketed as cool but really isn't. We have to hand it to Big Tobacco for doing a better job at hawking cool than the ACS, who visibly struggle with this whole "get down with our peeps" thing. - Contributed by Angela Natividad

by Angela Natividad    Dec- 1-06    
Topic: Campaigns, Online, Video, Worst



Draft FCB Gives Yet Another Reason Not to Select Them

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Adrants reader Dresden directs our attention to the super-classy Draft FCB congrats ad to all the winners from last summer's Cannes ad festival.

Dresden wryly notes, "Perhaps they should be the first to receive the 'Neal French Award' for non-creative, derivative, tacky work trying to pass as advertising..."

Ooh, that burns going down. Bottoms up to Draft. - Contributed by Angela Natividad

by Angela Natividad    Nov-27-06    
Topic: Industry Events, Magazine, Worst